Inspection machine for flares



@C%. 15, 1968 J, awns 3,405,806

INSPECTION MACHINE FOR FLARES Filed Oct. 7, 1965 FIG..2

INVENTOR. L/AMcs AA'W/S United States Patent 3,405,800 INSPECTION MACHINE EOR FLARES James W. Lewis, Erie, Pa., assignor to Swanson-Erie Corporation, Erie, Pa'., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 493,718

4 Claims. (Cl. 209-75) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The machine disclosed herein is intended. to inspect the large end of the funnel shaped flare to make sure that it is between a maximum and a minimum tolerance and, also, to inspect the flare to make sure that the overall length is between a maximum and a minimum tolerance. The machine further rotates the flares during inspection and 'in so doing insures that they are within tolerance limits vof concentricity. The flares having an over-all lengthgreater than tolerance are deflected laterally by a battle, those within tolerance pass under this bafl'le, and are deflected by a baflle that is supported above the track at a distance equal to the minimum tolerance. The flares, having a length less than the minimum tolerance, pass on below this second deflector. The flares below a minimum diameter fall through a slot in the bottom of the track adjacent the inclined portion of the track.

The following disclosure contains a correct and full description of the invention and 0f the best mode known to the inventor of taking advantage of the same.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved inspection machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inspection machine, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and eflicient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the inspection machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the section of the machine which inspects the diameter of the flares; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of the section of the machine that inspects the height of the flares.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the machine 11 has a frame 12 having spaced sprockets 27 and 28 that rotate on vertical shafts. One of the sprockets 27 and 28 may be driven by a suitable drive arrangement through shaft 13 or shaft 40. The chain 14 is continuous and is supported on the sprockets 27 and 28.

The chain 14 has the spaced rods 29 aflixed to it, and these rods extend rigidly outward in a horizontal direction and overlie the track 25.

The deflectors 21, 22, and 23 are supported above the track 25. These deflectors are for the purpose of checking the overall height of the flares to make sure that any flare that moves past the deflectors is of an overall height that is between acceptable tolerances.

The flares 30 are funnel shaped and are properly oriented with their large side down and are fed to the track 25 by a suitable feeding device, such as a vibratory bowl feeder of the type familiar to those skilled in the 3,405,800 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 art, indicated generally at 31. The flares slide on the track resting on their large ends. l I

As the flares move from the feeder to the track 25, the rods 29 on the chain engage stems of the flares and slide them along the track. As the flares advance along the track, they encounter the deflector 22, which is-supported above the track a distance equal to the maximum height of a flare that is within tolerance. Thus, all flares that are more than the maximum tolerance are deflected outward by the deflector 22, and they fall off of the edge of the track at 32 into a suitable repository,

The flares that are below the maximum height are moved forward along the track to the point 33, and flares below the minimum tolerance are allowed to move under the deflector 23. They move forward and engage the deflector 21 and are deflected outward and they fall into the repository 16.

Flares that are within the minimum and the maximum tolerance are deflected by the deflector 23 to the position of flare 34 where they move ahead down the track by a the rods 29 as indicated.

As the flares proceed around the track, they come to the position 18 where the track section has a slot in it as a first part indicated at 18 which is equal to the minimum dimension of a flare that is within tolerance. Thus, flares that have a diameter of less than the w dth of the slot indicated at 18 will fall through the slot into a repository at that point, and flares that are of greater diameter will be moved ahead.

At the same time the flares are moving along the slot they will be inclined slightly as indicated in FIG. 2, so that the lower right hand edge rides against the plate 36. The friction between the flares against plate 36 as they move along the track rotates the flares so that if any diameter of a flare is less than the width of the slot at 18 the flare will fall through the slot into the repository.

As the flare moves ahead to the acceptable diameter portion 19 of the track, any flare that is within tolerance, that is, a flare with a diameter of between the maximum acceptable diameter and the minimum acceptable diameter, will fall through the acceptable diameter section of the slot at 19 into a suitable repository.

Any flare that has a diameter greater than the manmum acceptable diameter will fall through the portion of the slot at 20 and thus be rejected.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents Without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A machine for testing round articles of manufacture having flat ends comprising a track,

means to slide said articles along said track,

said track having a first elongated opening therein,

said first opening being equal to the minimum acceptable lateral dimension of said articles whereby articles smaller than said minimum size will fall through said opening,

a second opening through said track,

said second opening having a lateral dimension equal to the maximum acceptable lateral dimension of said articles,

a repository for undersized articles below said first opening,

a repository for acceptable size articles below said second opening,

-and-a repository for oversize articles below said track after said acceptable size opening, and means on said machine to move said articles along 7 said track, said track being inclined laterally to the horizontal at said first opening and said second opening, a generally vertical guide member on said track along one side thereof, said vertical guide member being adapted to engage said articles to rotate them whereby a said article having a concentricity below a predetermined amount passes through said first opening. 2. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said means to slide said articles along said track comprises an endless chain having rod-like members attached thereto and extending laterally therefrom, said rod-like members being adapted to engage said 7 articles. 3. A machine for testing round articles of manufacture having flat ends comprising,

a track,

means to slide said articles along said track,

said track having a first elongated opening therein,

said first opening being equal to the minimum acceptable lateral dimension of said articles whereby articles smaller than said minimum size will fall through said opening,

a second opening through said track,

said second opening having a lateral dimension equal to the maximum acceptable lateral dimension of said articles,

a repository for undersized articles below said first opening,

a repository for acceptable size articles below said second opening,

and a repository for oversize articles below said track after said acceptable size opening,

and means on said machine to move said articles along said track,

means is provided on said machine a predetermined distance above said track whereby the first said articles having a height greater than a first predetermined height are deflected laterally from said track,

and means above said track for deflecting second articles of height lesser than said first predetermined height, but greater than a second predetermined height, then allowing said second articles to proceed down said track while said articles of height lesser than said second predetermined height are removed from said machine.

- 4; A machine for testing round articlesofihahufzic ture having one flat end to determine that the length, the

diameter, and the concentricity of said round articles are between a maximum and a minimum tolerance comprising a relatively flat track,

spaced sprockets disposed adjacent na kjii. i a

a continuous chain on said sprockets, 1 7,: l

spaced rod members on said chain extending from said chain over said track, V

said track being disposed generally in a horizontal plane, i

a first deflector member supported above said track a distance equal to the height of a said article of maximum tolerance and inclined in the direction of travel of said chain and outward whereby articles of greater height than said maximum tolerance are. deflected from said machine to a first repository, v a second deflector member supported above said track.

a distance equal to a said article having a height of minimum tolerance,

a second repository for said articles having a height less than said tolerance, 1

said second deflector being inclined toward the center of said machine whereby said articles of less than said minimum tolerance are allowed to move undeflected toward said second repository, a slot in said track having a first opening of width less than the maximum lateral tolerance of said articles,

a second opening of width equal to said maximum tolerance, said track being inclined laterally at said slot,

and means on the lower side of said track at said slot.

to engage the edge of said articles and rotate them as said articles advance along said track, whereby said article that are eccentric in shape and have a minimum diameter or a maximum diameter below or above said tolerance are allow to fall through said M. HENSON WOOD. JR., Primary Examiner.

IR. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner. 

